The men in the end gang picked up their tools and, glancing curiously at each other, started back across the bridge toward the river-bank.

Alexander himself remained standing where they had been working, looking about him.

It was hard to believe, as he looked back over it, that the whole great span was incurably disabled, was already as good as condemned, because something was out of line in the lower chord of the cantilever arm.
The end riveters had reached the bank and were dispersing among the tool-houses, and the second gang had picked up their tools and were starting toward the shore.

Alexander, still standing at the end of the river span, saw the lower chord of the cantilever arm give a little, like an elbow bending.

He shouted and ran after the second gang, but by this time every one knew that the big river span was slowly settling.
There was a burst of shouting that was immediately drowned by the scream and cracking of tearing iron, as all the tension work began to pull asunder.